WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Black residents want to be counted in 2010 census

Black residents want to be counted in 2010 census

By  Julie Straw - bio | email | twitter

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - As the new year approaches some African American communities are worried they will not be counted in the 2010 census.

"We believe it is from 30-50% of black men are historically under counted.  That's actually a disservice to the black community, but it's also a disservice to Mississippi," said Jackson Ward 2 Councilman Chokwe Lumumba.

The People's Task Force led by Councilman Lumumba met Saturday for the Fair Count To Fair Share Census Initiative.  According to the Census Bureau, Mississippi has the highest percentage of black residents of any state at 38%, but Fair Count to Fair Share organizers claim the numbers aren't accurate.  They say the problems are census workers who have poor outreach methods in black communities and the people who don't feel comfortable sharing information.

"When people come in the neighborhood that they don't know, gathering information or attempting to gather information we are very reluctant to do that," said Akil Bakari with the People's Task Force.

Councilman Lumumba believes Jackson residents need to know that their information will be safe to make sure they are putting more resources into getting more counts of our communities," said Lumumba Bandele of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement.

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